PATENT

3753.  TRAMM., H., AND WISCHERMANN, W. (Ruhrchemie A.G.).  [Hydrogenation of Carbon Monoxide in a Liquid Medium Over Suspended Catalysts.]  German Patent 744,185, Jan. 26, 1944; appl. R 109,563, R 559, filed Mar. 11, 1941 (Cl. 12 o-1.03).  FIAT Reel E 29, frames 878-880; PB 70,432; FIAT Reel AA-89, frames 61-64;  PB 70,274; TOM Reel 177 frames 1,762-1,768; Chem. Zentrlb., 1944, II, p. 93; Meyer Transl. PC-S-II, Fischer-Tropsch, vol.1, chap. 61, 1948, p. 154; Chem. Abs., vol. 39, 1945, p.2861.

As a catalyst is used Ni, Co, or Fe suspended in a liquid medium.  The hydrogenation is carried out in successive stages at 150°-280° under nearly atm. pressure or under pressures up to 50 atm.  The synthesis gas is introduced into the catalyst zone in a highly dispersed form by means of a fritted ceramic plate, such as glass.  In this way the reaction can be carried out in several steps, in all of which the gas velocity must be maintained equal.  To accomplish this, either the cross section of the frits must be reduced from step to step in accordance with the reduced quantity of gas, or corresponding amounts of H₂O vapor or low-boiling hydrocarbons or synthesis gas must be introduced into the cycle.  The conversion temperature is so chosen that CH₄ formation in each step amounts to not more than 1% of the converted CO, while at the same time the catalyst load is increased about 2-7 times higher than is usual for the hydrogenation of CO in the gaseous phase.